In this exercise, I am creating a sketchbook with different coloured paper and textures.  Then I will use a range of unfamiliar drawing materials and combine unusual elements to see what works together.  I will also investigate different blending methods with the hope to discover something new.

Red Handmade Paper

This beautiful red paper is ideal for achieving a dramatic, colourful illustration.  I used my children’s school pastels, and although it has given me a nice effect with the red peeping through the grain, I think it was harsh for this paper.  The charcoal pencil was scratchy and sharp on this soft paper.  I also tried Indian Ink applied with a dip pen for the darker shadows, which worked well.  Vaseline applied with a cotton ear bud did not do much to blend and smooth out the pastels, and the rubbing alcohol made the pigments soak into the paper and left the image looking dull.

Red Handmade Paper – What will I do differently?

I will most definitely use the red paper again.  After researching materials, I will use pan pastels next time and build up the layers slowly to avoid tearing into the delicate paper.  Luminance 6901 Coloured Wax Pencils from Caran d’Ache are also a great option because of their easy blending properties and soft application. Another option is to block out the areas where you don’t want the red to peep through with gouache paint and let it dry.  You can then work on top of the gouache with your coloured pencils.

Watercolour Pencils on Pearl Textured Scrapbook Paper

This paper has a gloss pearl texture on the front and white indenting pearls on the back.  Drawing in Indian ink applied with a dip pen worked excellently and soaked into the paper without bleeding.  The watercolour pencil leaves a dotted effect when used over the indents, but the paper lost its structure when I added water to activate the watercolour pencil.  I used Vaseline applied with a cotton bud to blend the second box, and that worked well.  I tried the Vaseline on the cherries as well. Still, there are too many indents to get enough pigment down, and the colour appears desaturated even after activating the watercolour pencils.  Turning the paper over and drawing the ink bottle on the front has given me more surface area and just enough texture.  I am pleased with this effect.  In the end, I sprayed some rubbing alcohol on the boxes to see what would happen.  The alcohol made the colours bleed.

Watercolour and Pearl Paper – What will I do differently?

Next time I will use thicker watercolour paper.  I do like it when the pigment soaks into the paper when activated with water.  The Vaseline activates the colour, but it sits on the surface and doesn’t blend into the paper. Nevertheless, it’s a good technique to know and use where needed.  I can also make indents by using a knife or blade and then use the pencil over the dents.  The indentation will not pick up the pigment and stay white.  Next time, when I choose textured paper, I will first assess how much surface is available to hold the pigment and if my medium is pliable enough to work into the crevices. 

Pastels on Pearl Scrapbooking Paper

The pastel became very messy when I tried to blend it with alcohol.  The paper is just terrible for working with pastels.  It is too thin and fragile, and the pastels can’t grip onto the paper.  It is difficult to control.

Pastels on Pearl Paper – What will I do differently?

I will try a smoother and thicker paper for the pastels to come to their full potential. A mixed media paper will be ideal.  I would also like to try pan pastels on watercolour paper with a bit of a tooth to see if I can get a soft but textured effect.  The Indian ink is very versatile, but the pigment sunk into the paper once I applied the alcohol. 

Synthetic Paper with Mixed Media

I was determined to blend these pastels into something more pliable.  The pastels mixed beautifully with the Vaseline, but it just became tinted Vaseline.  I then turned the pastel sideways and worked more pigment into the Vaseline mixture.  I scratched into the pastel to add some white strokes. The paper handled this very well. The pink and yellow mixed and made an orange waxy clay-like texture.  Lastly, I dripped some alcohol ink on top and sprayed it with a colourless alcohol blender.  The alcohol caused the purple ink to bleed a little and given it jagged edges.

Synthetic Paper with Mixed Media – What will I do differently?

I initially thought this was just a big mess. Still, after reflecting on this experiment, I realised that even though you can’t really work on top of it to manipulate and refine it further, you can certainly scan it into Photoshop and draw on top of these marks.  I can see the potential of people working the land or a family setting up camp.

Shimmer Calligraphy Ink on Synthetic Paper

I have dripped the calligraphy ink on the synthetic paper and worked it around the paper with a cotton bud.  These mediums worked well together, except the alcohol solvent did nothing to the ink but leaving a translucent residue. Afterwards, I went in with the Indian Ink to add darker values.

Shimmer Ink on Synthetic Paper – What will I do differently?

Next time I will add more solid darker values and not use the alcohol solvent.

Alcohol Markers on Synthetic Paper

I made blocks with different colour alcohol markers on the synthetic paper and sprayed it with a colourless alcohol blender.  It started to bleed and even brought up some interesting colours from the paper.  I then went in with a dip pen and Indian Ink and tried to follow the shapes and draw whatever came to mind.

Alcohol Markers on Synthetic Paper – What will I do differently?

This technique works well, and I won’t do much differently next time.

Black Paper and Watercolour Pencils

Drawing on black paper is not as easy as I thought.  You are drawing in negative space, so you will leave the space blank where you want your darker tones. The watercolour pencils apply easily onto the matt black paper.  I built up my layers slowly, and it was challenging to get my head around the black values already being there. 

Black Paper and Watercolour Pencils – What will you do differently?

I think wax or oil colour pencils will work better on black paper.  Although I tried my best to build up many layers, the watercolour pencils are not as vibrant unless you activate it with water.

Mid-tone Brown Paper with Charcoal

Mid-tone paper with charcoal worked very well together and was an enjoyable experience.  I will most definitely use this combination again.  I have sanded the charcoal and applied the charcoal dust with a brush.  I then went in with an extra soft charcoal pencil to add some texture and blended it where needed with a microfiber eyeglasses cloth.

Arches Cold Pressed Watercolour Paper (300g/m2)

Using cold pressed paper and the following mediums as a base and will layer watercolour pencils over it:

1. Watercolour pencil activated with water.
2. Mungyo Watercolour Paint in Permanent Red.
3. Cheap Pastels in Pink.
4. Windsor & Newton Gouache in Opera Pink.
5. Windsor & Newton Gouache in Opera Pink and netting as a stencil.
6. Coloured Board Chalk in purple.
7. Children’s crayon in red.

Watercolour Pencil as a base

I used watercolour pencils as a base and then activated it with water and a brush.  Once it was completely dry, I added another layer of dry watercolour pencils.

Watercolour Paint as a base

I have painted watercolour paint as a base and waited until it was completely dry before adding shading with watercolour pencils.

Opera Pink Gouache as a base

The pink gouache was a difficult colour to use as a base.  The watercolour pencils worked well on top of the gouache once it was dry.  I would like to try wax or oil pencils with gouache in the future.

Gouache and Stencil Background

Below is the result after applying the watercolour pencil to the gouache-and-net background.  I have decided to activate the watercolour with water to blend it with the pattern.  After doing some research, I came to realise that watercolour paint will work better for this effect.  Apply the net on top of the wet watercolour and let it dry; remove the net, and it will leave a lighter net pattern on the paper.  You can also use cling wrap in this way.

Alcohol Markers and Synthetic Paper

Lastly, I wanted to see the effects of using darker neutral tone alcohol makers on synthetic paper and spraying it with a colourless blender.  I was pleasantly surprised to get a lovely texture.

In conclusion, this was an inspiring exercise that sparked many ideas that I can use for future projects.  I would furthermore like to experiment with pan pastels, wax coloured pencils, oil polychromos coloured pencils, charcoal and watercolours.